Wall



E. BERLINER Dec. 17, 1929.

WALL

Filed Feb. '5, 1929 Patented Dec. 17, 1.929

EMILE BERLINER, or WASHINGTON, Drsrnrc'r or .COLUMBIA 'WALL applicati@ mea February s, 1929. serial No. 337,653.

This invention relates to walls, and more specifically to a wall formed with a plurality of hollow cells which are defined by cell molds or members attachedto an unfinished wall surface and subse uently covered with a coat of cement there y to impart to the finished wall surface the vibratory characteristics of diaphragms, possessing marked qualities of resonance and sound reflection, and at the same time preventing reverberation.

The invention is particularly applicable to masonry walls, such as those of auditoriums,

theaters, concert halls, churches and the like where good acoustics are most desirable. In masonry walls as at presentconstructed the solidity of the structure promotes reverberation, and such walls are found to be almost entirely lacking in that resonant property so essential for a good acoustic effect.

My prior U; S. Patentv No. 1,628,351, discloses cell members of fine mesh wire screen material which are affixed to the unfinished surface of awall and then covered with a layer of cement. I have found, however, that to impart the necessary quality of resonance to a wall the cell members should be fairly rigid and of a material which will not be easily and permanently deformed by the plasterer when he presses the acoustic cement over the wire meshes. Such a deformed cell reduces the vibrations of the cement diaphragms formed.

A cell of coarse mesh wire, while it resists deformation because of its heavier and more sturdy structure, permitted the'cement with which the cells were afterward covered to penetrate and fill or partially fill the cellular space and thus spoil the structure by which the acoustic diaphragm effect was to be obtained. ln the ractice of the invention disclosed in vmy aforesaid patent cells of fine mesh wire fabric were used since they obviated this disadvantage, but the fine mesh fabric, itself, possesses the disadvantage of be.- ing structurally non-elastic and consequently easily deformed. The outer coat of cement,

however, being vibratory because of the cel-.

lular spaces beneath its surface tended to pull away from its interlocking engagement with the wire cells, thus causing the formation of numerous smallcraeks inthe wall surface. y

The present invention is an improvement over that disclosedl in my prior patent and overcomes the defects noted. vI have found that a cell member of coarse wire screen material possesses the desired rigidity to withstand the stresses to which it is subjected when being covered, without rmanent deformation, and is of sufficient y elastic character to permit vibration of the cement wall surface without tendency to separate from it and thus form cracl in the wall surface.

Toprevent penetration of plaster through c5 the interstices of the coarse mesh cell, a sheet of paper, fiber, cloth or other suitable material 'is glued, cemented or affixed in any other approved mannerto one surface of the wire fabric, which is subsequently stamped into diaphragm shape with an inturned annular flange. The skeleton wire frame of the cell being outermost presents a rou h surface to whlch the cement coat will readl y adhere, but because of the lining no cement can penetrate into the cellular space which it defines.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to rovide a structure which is 4permanent an non-inflammable and which, at the same so time, possesses the desired acoustic properties of wood walls, being of vibratory character and a good reflector and diffuser of sound.

A further object is to provide a cellular wall structure so `formed that a resonant quality is imparted to the wall surface.

A stilll further object is to provide, on an unfinished wall surface a plurality of cell members of suicient rigidity and elasticity to resist permanent deformation while being 9 made, such cell members being lined with a material to prevent penetration of cement v into the spaces defined by them and a surface coating of cement applied to said cell members and the spaces between them to interlock therewith so that the vibratory characteristic of a diaphragm is imparted to the wall surface.

Other and further objects will be apparent ico thereafter covered with -cement 15.

from the following description and drawin', in whichig. 1 is a front view of a section of wall constructedin accordance with my invention and showing the outer cement surface partly cut away to disclose ythe underlying structurel inz' he cell members each comprises a piece of coarse mesh wlrev screening 10, or other reticulated material of re uired rigidity.

lining 11 of aper, thin fa ric or fiber is glued to a sheet oi) the wire mesh material and the composite sheet is thereafter stamped to ,form an inturned circumferential lange 12, the lining 11 being innermost. The cells so made can be acked and shipped without danger of breaEage in transit between the places of manufacture and use. Also because of their relatively flat, dish-like shape the cells may be packed for shipment in a minimum space, and the resulting small package is easily transported and handled.

While the cell members 10 are preferably of circular shape they may be of any other suitable or desirable shape such as for example, hexagonal, octagonal or the like, with equally good results.

The pre-formed cell members are anchored to the unfinished wall surface 13 by nails 14 or other suitable fastening means and are a finishing coat of Although ordinary plaster or cement may be used as a finishing coating, I

refer to cover the cell members with a surace of so-called acoustic plaster which is' composed of a mixture the like, and a filler, such for example as sawdust, asbestos, etc., adapted to aid in producing the desired resonance.

This cementtious outer coating lls in the spaces between adjacent cells 10 thereby assisting the nails 14 in securely anchoring them to the wall surface 13, and at the same time forming an interlock with the project- 1n erlng the cells to present a finished and unbroken wall surface 15.

What I claim is v 1. A cell for acoustic walls-consistin of coarse wire mesh material formed a flange for -spacing it from' the surface to which it is aixed in use, and a lining for said cell.

2. A cell for acoustic walls consisting of coarse wire mesh material formed with a flange for spacing it from the surface to which it is aiiXed in use, and a aper lining adhesively connected to said 3. A wire mesh cell for acoustic cement of plaster, cement or mesh of the wire cells and completely covof a skeleton wire cell, and4 

